The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-09


When affection thunders DER cur roofs,
To hide our heads and run into our graves
Shows us no men, but makes us fortunes
slaves, -,JOnSOn.
The cold, cloudy October day was draw
ing to a close. Out on the campus, fronting
the college, five youths were gathered be-
meath a large sycamore discussing a match
game of ball which was to occur on the fol-
lowing Saturday between the college nine
and a club from the university. The rest
of the students, with the exception of a
youth standing at the western gate, were in
their rooms, driven thither perhaps by the
damp, disagreeable weather.
At length the eldest of the aforesaid group
having predicted,a glorious victory for their
club, of which he was pitcher, pointed to-
ward the student at the gate, and laughing
ly remarked to his companions
Il say, boys what on earth is the matter
with Paine! He is the quietest, gloomiest
fellow | ever saw"
Il don't see why he should be, said one of
the boys. His brilliant mind would cause
any other boy to strut up and down the
campus like a peacock"
But Virgil is not one of that kind
promptly replied noble-looking, blue-eyed
youth, whose name was Charlie NORRIS
"Oh, guess the. fellows girl has kicked
d
stroked his infant moustache and laughed
affectedly as he did so.
Virgil is in trouble" said Charlie: "but
he is not willing to initiate Tom, Dick and
Harry into his secrets, and he is right.
Poor fellow! l love Virgil Panel He is as
nice a boy as ever knew
''Of course he is a good fellow" said the
first speaker. ''We don't doubt for mo-
ment the truth of your assertion, Charlie;
but still we don't like to see one of our num-
Der moping around here with the blues"
The rest of the group. with the exception
of a pretty, girlish-faced boyo II, prompt
ly voted that Virgil was good, noble boy.
''Well, reckon he's a very nice boy" said
the dainty lad, at length. "But | tell you
what, boys, he has lowered himself nightly
in my estimation by his making a bosom
friend of that low-born, red-headed Quaker
Roger Penn-whose father is only a coun-
Try blacksmith, and whose mother, they say,
is bold enough to speak in church, or meet
ing-house, as the long faced, hypocritical
Quakers style their place of worship Roger
Penn! Who is he, for heavens sake" and
the speaker elevated the tip of his nose
as though the wind had suddenly waited to
his nostrils the offensive odor of wild
onions
Boiling McKim,n cried Charlie, shaking
his finger in the speakers blue-veined face,
''you are my cousin, but gracious knows l
am ashamed of the relationship. You are
the most scornful, weak-minded upstart that
walks upon two legs. If / had authority
over you would apply the lash Of the cow
hide until every drop of old Pocahoatas
blood-if you have any-had dripped from
your veins. What if Roger PENIS father
is only blacksmith! Roger is as good as
you are All, pretty boy, you are high
born, but you are far from being high-bred,
and until your nature undergoes a mighty
revolution you will never be man. Virgil
Paine is both high-born and high-bred, and
he proves himself a man by the little value
be places upon pedigree and money if they
are unadorned with personal worth. He
would as cheerfnlly associate with the son
of laborer as with the son of q nobleman,
If the former were a congenial companion
Despite your being an f. F. ", Boiling,
Virgil thinks you inferior to Roger Penn,
whom you scornfully term a low-born Qua
kerr"
He thinks me-me-a descendant of John
Rolfe and Observation-Disclosures to a dirty
blacksmith's son9 bet he would never say
such thing in my hearing | would break
his noSe-darn if | wouldntm
scornful laugh broke from Charles
lips.
Virgil is no fighting character" he said.
never saw him in a disturbance in my
life; but | would advise you, my blue
blooded cousin, not to attempt to break Vir
gll's nose | wouldn't like to see your dainty
little body tossed over the fence, and your
handsome, tightly-fitting fall suit soiled by
your landing in one of the ud-puddles in
the road. Virgil has never said he thought
you inferior to Roger but of course he can
not help thinking SO. l think so myself"
Charlie Morrissl" cried Boiling. his face
reddening with anger, show aunt Mamie
and cousin Florine would blush with shame
to hear you speak in such Manner
No doubt of it," replied Charlie
Mother and FIorine are genuine McKims.
y person cannot prove himself a descen-
liant of Pocahontas or some other dark
skinned heather that lived two or three CEN
turles ago, they think no more of him than
they do Of dog or a mule, however noble
or talented person may be-
Tears of anger rushed to Rollings pale
blue eyes, and, diving a hand in each
pocket, he walked off.
We will now turn to the youth standing
at the gate. Gentle reader, he is Virgil Paine,
the young gentleman who is to figure as the
nero of this novel. He is nota pretty, girlish-
laced, curly-haired slim-legged boy; but he
Is tall, splendidly-formed and intellectually
handsome. His head is large and magnlh'
Gently shaped; his forehead is broad, lofty
and remarkably fair The rich coloring of
perfect health CLOVIS in his dimpled cheeks.
HIS features are all faultless Those who adj
mire extremely small mouths, however,
may say Virgil's mouth is rather large. AT
any rate, his well-shaped, and the sweet,
winning expression that bowers about it,
and the additional charm the lovely white
teeth impart. when the lips move, more than
compensate for the trihing defect. his eyes
are large, eloquent, and of dark brown
color, and tn. tender Igh5 they shed over
MS classic countenance makes him actually
beautiful.
As he stood thus alone, his eyes fixed sad
~, dreamily down the road, quick, fa-
mlllar step sounded on the gravel walks be-
nlld him, and, turning, he saw his bosom
friend, Roger Penn, coming toward the
gate.
All alone, Virgilp exclaimed Roger,
placing his hand on our hero's shoulder.
All alone, Roger replied the latter "A
sfoomy day, isn't itF' !.